Refrigerating apparatus.



H. M. K'LINGENFELD.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED' MAY 26, 1916.

STATES OFFICE.

HARRY u. kLmGiiNrnLn, '.or" nrtweuxnn, WISCONSIN.

Y Application mea may 26, 191s. serial No. 99,936.

Toull'whoin t mag/concern:

Beit known that I, HARRY M.- Knitwear FELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing. at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain/new and useful improvements inRerigerating A paratus, of which thev follow'- ing is a speci cation,reference being had to the 'accompanyingdrawing forming a part thereo.`y

This invention relates more particularly to an Aabsorption systexninwhich a refrigerat= mg agent such as ammonia is'successlvely-vevaporated and separated from an absorbent suchA as water, by theapplicationof heat,

condensed by a Vcooling .agent and .expanded to produce a coolingeffect.

. Its main objects are to shortenithe evaporating periodand prolong theabs rption period of the cycle of operations', to reduce the quantity offuel and water or other cooling agent required'to evaporate and separatethe refrigerating agent from the solution and vto condense therefrigerating agent after it is separated from the solution, andgenerally .tosimpliiy and improve the construction .and operation ofapparatus of this class u particularly for domestic purposes and small-ycomme'rcial plants. The invention consists inthe peculiar construction,arrangement and combination of parts as'hereinafter particularlydescribed and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates partly in side elevation andpartly'in verti pal section, apparatus embodying the inven- 1011. l ."fI

The apparatus comprises a closed ammo- .nia generating and-absorbingtank or generator absorber a, and 'aclosed 'condensing tank or condenserb, which are preferably made of 'metal and .may be like or similar inconstruction ^.to`an ordinary domestic bpiler forheatingwater. -Eachtank is proivided with aninternal cooling chamber lc,-

preferably of cylindrical'form and attached at or ,ad3acent to its upperend, which may be .contractedas shown, by a iiuidtightjoint gto the'up'er end or .head of the tanke y lThe coolingc amber, which extendsfrm.the upper head nearly to-the bottom of the tank and fis-preferablycoaxial therewith;` is clo'se'd Y' Spccication of Letters'fatent. I

nnraienaa'rme armirtA'rr'rs.

Patented Nev. 13, 1917.

at the lower end'and has an overflow opening at the upper end, arrangedto discharge the cooling agent such as water, with which otherwisesupported above the tanks a and.

b,- andis connected with said chambers by pipes g and h, extendingdownwardly nearly to the lower ends of said chambers. The intake openingat the upper end oi the pipe g, which is provided with a valve seat, isat a lower level than the intake opening at the upper end of the pipe h.The pipe h 1sv provided at its upper end, whichextends into thereservoir f above the upper end of the pipe g, with a verticallyadjustable sleeve c",'

secured thereto by a set screw j, and forming a vertically adjustableoveriow from said reservoir whereby the liquid level therein. may bevaried, for-a purpose hereinafter eX plained. The upper end of the pipeg is provided with a valve k, which controls the supply of water orother cooling agent to the internal cooling chamber c of the tank a.

VThe valve 7c is operated by a lever Z, fulcrumed vonthe upper part ofthe. reservoir f and having a forked arm extending outwardlytherefrom.`p

A dehydratng oar-condensing and separating coill m contained in thereservoir f is connected at its lower intake end by a pipe n.withtheupper part of the tank van, and at its .upper outlet endby a pipe otwiththe.'

lower part. of the. tank b.' I1 he pipe o is providedfwlth" a checkvalve'p, which closes to ward:- the; coil lm, a'nd between the checkvalve i andvtank b :with 'a high pressure gage pipen/r, provided-with avalve s, leads into the reservoir f,or supplying water or other coolinguidthereto'; f

yAn evaporating coil. preferably located or capacity outside of thecasing d, is connected at one end with the lower part ofthe tank a andat the other end with the pipe n through the upper partk of said tankabove the liquid level therein, or it may be connected with the pipe nabove said tank. This evaporating coil, which is preferably inclosed bya casing u, may be heated by steam when it is available, or by othermeans such as a gas burner o, supplied with gas by a pipe fw, providedwith a valve The handle g/,Of-v the valve has an arm or projectionarranged to engage with the forked arm of the. lever Z, so that when thegas valve is opened as shown in the drawing, the 'valve k will beAclosed, and when the gas valve is closed, the valve if: will beqopened,without'care o'r at-l tention.

Where steam is available for evaporating the contents of the tank a, asteaincoil may be placed inside of the tank, but an evaporating coil andmeans for heating .thesaine located outside ofthe generatorA absorber a,as shown by the drawing, are preferable.

he cooling chamber@ of the generator absorber a is provided witha drainor outf let connection for emptying it. This may be of smaller capacitythan the supply pipe or connection g, and left constantly open so that1t will require no attentiona A Siphon z is shown for this4 purpose,having its inner leg within the chamber c, of smaller diameter than thepipe g.

he generator absorber is provided with a gage 2, for indicating theliquid level therein. An expansion coil 3 is connected 2y a pipe 4, thelower part ofthe condenser sion coil is preferably immersed a suitablesolution such as calcium chlorid, contained in a receptacle 7,surrounding a freezing or coolingchamber 8, of any suitableconstruction, according to Athe use which is to be made of it.

A filter or scale trap 9, of any suitable construction, is preferablyplaced in the pipe 4 leading to the expansion coil, to. removeanyimpurities or foreign matter from theV refrigerating agent which vmaybe carriedV over with it from. the condenser. The pipe.

'The return pipe l5 is provided with a low pressure gage.

a Shut-og. valve l2, a check valve 13 closlng toward the. expansion coil(although this may be omitted), a drain cock 14 andv a three-way valvelhaving a hose or pipe coupling for' charging the 'generator ab,

sorber and for disconnecting it from the eX- pansionlcoil.

Avent pipe 16, provided with cocks YY17, is connected with the upperends of the tanks a and for releasing air o r foreign gases which may betrapped therein.

Any suitable refrigerant may be used in the apparatus, such as anhydrousammonia, which is r'eadily soluble in water.

he apparatus with ammonia as a refrigerant, operates as follows:

The generator absorber a 'being charged with a strong aqueousvsolutionof ammonia to about the level of the top of the gage 2, and thereservoir f supplied with water through the piper, the gas valve or cockis opened, as shown inthe drawing, and the burner o lighted. The valve kbeing closed by the openin of the gas valve w, and the cooling cham ercof the tank a being empty, theaqueoiis solution drawn from the lowerpart of the generator-absorber L is heated in the coil t, and because ofthe unstable chemical character of the aqua animonia, the ammonia, whoseboiling point is lower than that ofthe water,V is rapidly vaporized andconducted therefrom through the coil m, which is immersed in the coolingwater contained in the reservoir f to the level -of the overflow openingat the upper end o'f the sleeve z', through which it overflows into thepipe i and thence into the lower `end ofthe cooling'chamber c, in thecondenser 5. Aqueous vapor carriedoif with theammonia vapor or gas fromthe heating coil t, is condensed in the' coil m, and iiows back throughthe pipen into the generatorabsorber. rlhe dehydrated ammonia vapor orgas passes through the check valve Y and pipe o into the lower part ofthe con enser b, where it is condensed and liquefied by the coolingwater with which the chamber c is filled, and which overiiows from theupper end thereof over the exterior surface of the condenser b into thebasin or receptacle formed by the lower part of the casing d, passingofi" through. the drain pipe or con` nection e. Only a comparativelysmall portion of the total volume of the aqueous solution of ammoniabeing subjected to heat at any given timein the coil: t into which itHows from the lower pai of the generatorabsorber, evaporation andseparation of the ammonia from the water is effected gradually andcontinuously in a much shorter time and with the consumption of muchless gas or fuel than would be required to evaporate and separate theammonia from the s`o lution by the direct application of heat to theentire volume contained in the generatorabsorber a.' The evaporationperiod is thus materially shortened, and the consumption of gas or fuel:materially reduced.

The application. of tue water or cooling llO iis

evaporation period.

. time, and is indicated-by remaining therein, and

' become too and-'materially reduces `and pressure of the expandiiihigh, as indicated-by the gage agent both internally and externally tothe condenser during the evaporation period-, as shown anddescribed,'expedites the condensation of the ammonia the quantity ofwa-v ter required vfor .this purpose-during the After a suitable portionof s'orber a has thus been evaporatedp which' is accomplished in acomparatively short the liquid level in the gage 2, the gas valve ai isopening the valve k, 'which water vfrom 'the reservoir bei` c 'ofgenerator-absorber a. .The Water filling-said chamber exterior surfaceof` the generator-absorber, quickly cools the'weak solution'zor liquidammonia gas admitted pipes 5 and 6 from the expansion coil 3 begins, andactively continuesfor a compara?. tively long Vperiod until `thetemperature 11, for eicient Work. y Y f From thelcondeiiser, theammonia, "which is held under pressure ina liquid vstate' therein, 'issupplied through the pipe 4,

-lilter 9 and expansion valve 10, to the coil 3,

in which it expands, cooling the brine or other solution `in which it isimmersed and the chamber 8 surrounded by the coil.

.Thevalve 10 may beautomatica'lly closed and opened in a well knownmanner by a thermostaticpontrolling mechanism, 'accoiiing to variationsof temperature inthe brine or solution contained yin the chamber?, or

variations in the temperature of the air in the -refrigeratingor-cooling chamber 8.

The-'spent ammonia gas, after expansion l in .the coil 3, is conducted-under low pres sure indicated bythe gage 11, through the pipes 5 and iwhere it is reabsorbed by the water or weak solutien: contained therein.i

Duringy the comparativelyl long expansion `andabsorption'.period ofthe'cycle, the valve Z, being open, the' cooling water descends in thereservoir V7" below the overow 'opening' intothe sleeve i and fpipe h,andis directed through the 1coolingchamber o of the gens erator-absorberc, overiowing at Ithe upper'Y Y -end of the chambertin 'a thin ilmoveithe exterior surface. of the 'generator-absorber, keeping the solutioncontained thereinv cool and in condition --or continuous andactiveabsorption ot the ammonia gas. During .this periodthe coolingwater not needed for the. condenser. b and dehydrating coil m,

and. economy inthe use of water is thus the` short4` automatically`vinfected) lgDiii-ing gas inV the tank by' :the ammonia.V in thesolution contained in generator-ab- *isl raised or lowered,

ammonia 6, into the geiierator-absorber 'a,-

" charge a. cooling agent over period of-'evaporation and separation ofthe when.: cooling ammonia. from 'the solution, water is `not requiredfor the absorption, but is required for the condenser an coil m, itiscut olf from the fgenerator- I l absorber by closing the valve 7c, andrising Y inl the reservoir f around-the coil m, preliminarily cools; andcondenses the 'aqueous vapor-1 entering said coil, through the' sleeveand pipe ing chamber c the exterior.y surface ofthe condenser I),conan'd then overiows` densingandliquefyingthe ammonia ldischargedinto-said'condenser underthe pres-f sure oroducedfby evaporation'in thecoil t.'

dvthel of the condenser and over.

A "lv-3,7 I

h into. the -cooll coolin'gwatercut :olf roinf the generator'- absorber,the coolingv Achamber c of the geiicrater-.absorber is automaticallyemptied by the action of the 'Siphon' a. f' f? f 'By adjusting' thesleeve i up or down when the valve lc waterin the voir 'and the `condenssaid coil. .i Y

The term4 fcoil is used herein inj a ge 'ngi eiect required in neri'csense and is intended to `include a.' single .'85 is'closed, the levelof the cooling-f1 reservoirv f around thecoill according to the-'tem f.peratureof the water supplied to the resetpipe ori chamber" orfv anysuitable size and 2 1 shape or a group of such pipes or'chambers.v

Various modifications inthe construction and 'arrangement' of parts ofthe apparatus in theadaotation ofthe' Sameto conditions and -dierentuses may bemade without departure from'the' principle'and scope of theinvention as" defined in the following claims. Y l f I claimt v L 1."lnrefrigerating appara us the combinationl of a closed generator-absorberprovarying vided with lanv interior cooling chamber hav- ,ingl an-'overflow lopeningarrai'iged to dis- .chargel a cooling agent over the.generatorsab'sorben a supply connection for` the cooling 'agentlleading into said chamber and Aprovided with a valve for the exteriorlot shuttingoil. the supply otcooling agent I thereto, and 'a.'restrictedioutlet from the lower .part of said chamber for emptyingthe same when the supply of cooling-agent is shut'of 2. InArefrigerating apparatus the combi- .nation offga closedgenerator-absorber 'provided with 4an interior coo ing 'an'foverflowopening arranged 'to disthe'exterior of iis izo

the generator-absorberya "connectionj pro I vided with'. a valve -foi'supplying said' chamber with the 'cooling agent, and.l a .Siphon adaptedvto empty said chamber when 112: 'the valveiinthesupply connection isclosed.`

Bil-a', retrigeijatingapparatus the combination-oft a closedgenerator-absorberf-.pr"f

videdwith an interior cooling chamber having an overflow openingarranged to discharge a cooling agent over the exterior of thegenerator-absorber, a reservoir for the cooling agent located above thegeneratorabsorber, and having a connection leading into said coolingchamber and provided With a valvea dehydrating coil in said reservoirhaving a drain connection leading into the generator-absorber, anevaporating coil connected with the lower part of the generatorabsorberand with the dehydrating coil, means for heating said evaporating coilcomprising a heating agent supply connection provided with a valve and aconnection between the heat controlling valve and the valve controllingthe supply of cooling agent to said cooling chamber' whereby the openingof one valve closes the other.

4. In refrigerating apparatus the combination of a closed generating andabsorbing tank and a closed condensing tank, each provided With an innercooling chamber havingan overow opening arranged to discharge a coolingagent over the exterior of the tank, a reservoir for the cooling agentlocated above said tanks and connected by conduits with the coolingchambers, the opening into the conduit leading into the cooling chamberof the generating and absorbing tank being at a lower level than theopening into the other conduit, a dehydrating coil in said reservoirgeneratingand absorbing tank, and means for evaporating the contents ofthe generating and absorbing tank.

5: In refrigerating apparatus the combination of a generating and anabsorbing tank, a condensing tank provided With a cooling chamber, aWater reservoir located above said tanks andhaving a Water supplyconnection and a vertically adjustable outlet leading into said chamber,a dehydrating coil connected with the condensing tank and at its lowerend with the generating and absorbing tank, and a. heater forevaporating the contents of the generating and absorbing tank.

6. In refrigerating apparatus the combination of a closed generating andabsorbing tank provided with an internal cooling chamber having anoverflow opening arranged to discharge a cooling agent over the exteriorof the tank, a connection provided with a valve for supplying the coolinagent .to said chamber, an evaporating coil aving its inlet connectedwith the lower part of saldtank and its .outlet above the liquid leveltherein, a burner for heating said coil havlng a fuel supply connectionprovided .with a valve valves'whereby the opening of the fuel valvecloses the other valve andthe closing of the fuel valve opens the othervalve .charge over the exterior connected with thev and a connectionbetvveensaidassieme 7. ln r'erigerating apparatus the combination of anoverdovv receptacle provided With a drain connection, a closedgenerating and absorbing tank and a closed condensing tank placed invided With an internal cooling chamber having an overflow openingarranged 'to discharge over the exterior surface of the tank,connections for supplying a cooling agent to said chambers, means forcontrollingthe supply of the cooling agent to the cooling chamber of thegenerating and absorbing tank, and means for emptying said chamber.

8 ln refrigerating apparatus the combination of an overflow receptacle,a generating and absorbing tank and a condensing tan-k placed in saidreceptacle and each provided Witli an internal cooling chamber having anoverflow opening arranged to dissurface of the tank, a water reservoirlocated above said tanks and having connections with their coolingchambers, the connection With the cooling chamber of the generating andabsorbing tank having a valve and its inlet being at a lower level thanthe inlet of the other connection, a dehydrating coil contained in saidreservoir and connected at its lower end with the'generating andabsorbing tank and at its upper end With the condensing tank, theconnection with the condensing tank having a check valve closing towardthe coil, means for evaporating the contents of the generating andabsorbing tank, and an expansion coil having an inlet connection withthe lower part of the condensing tank and ,an outlet connection With thegeneratingand absorbing tank, the inlet connection having a restrictedexpansion opening and an outlet connection having a check valve closingtoward said coil.

9. In refrigerating apparatus the combination of a closed generating andabsorbing tank and a condensing tank provided with cooling chambers, acooling agent reservoir located above said tanks and having deliveryconnections leading into said cooling chambers, means for shutting offthe supply of cooling agent from said reservoirto the cooling chamber ofthe generating and absorbing tank, a dehydratmg coil having connectionsleading from the loWer and upper parts thereof into the generating andabsorbin and condensing tanks respectively, a chec valve in theconnection between said coil and the condensing tank to prevent backltlovv of the refrigerating agent, and a heater comprising anevaporating coil connected with the generating and absorbing tank atdierent levels.

10. In refrigerating apparatus the combi- 'nation2 of; aclosedgenerator-absorber and a closed condenser provided with valve controlledvents opening from the upper parte said receptacle and each prothereof7means ion alternately heating and cooling the liquid in the'generator-absorber, means for cooling the condenser, a condensing andseparating coil connected at the lower end with the generator-absorberand at the upper end with the condenser7 a check l valve closing tower@said coil in the connectlon between 1t and the condenser, and anexpanslon coll havmg an lnlet connectlon 'with the lower pari; of theconolen'ser and an' im' outlet connection with the lower part of thegenerator-absorber.

In witness whereof I hereto ax my rsig-A natre n presence of twowitnesses. HARRY M. KLINGENFELD.

Witnesses:

Cms. L. Goss, e ALICE E. Grosra.

